A road surface vandal has returned to the streets with new crude drawings, causing representatives from an advocacy group to explain their stance and distance themselves from the events.

The phallic imagery, first noticed on Richmond Road in Worthing on March 29, has since appeared on St Matthews Road and Elizabeth Road in the area.

Images show that a number of the damaged road surfaces have already been fixed.

The drawings led Worthing Pothole Patrol to release a statement after receiving many questions from local people.

The group, led by former councillor Martin McCabe and local broadcaster Bob Smytherman, said the vandalism reflected increasing public anger about Worthing’s road conditions, while making clear they do not endorse damaging property.

According to Mr McCabe, residents have every right to be frustrated. He explained that although the group does not endorse this particular act, it speaks volumes about how people feel driven to highlight road deterioration in such a blatant and emphatic way. He added that it provides further evidence of the critical situation the group has been warning about for some time.

The group recently contacted Councillor Joy Dennis, who holds the transportation brief at West Sussex County Council, warning that Worthing’s roads have hit a critical point.

Roads flagged as needing immediate work include Grand Avenue, Penfold Road, George V Avenue, Heene Road and Burlington Road.

Several of the damaged road sections have now been repaired.

Mr McCabe added that residents deserve safe, reliable roads and not endless short-term solutions or a situation where annoyance builds to this level. He stated that the group will keep pressing the council until they see real progress.

The group said they are still waiting to hear back from the county council.

The recent vandalism follows a similar incident last year, when phallic markings were also drawn near road damage in Portland Road.

The county council announced earlier this month that it would be spending over £60 million on transport infrastructure improvements in 2026 and 2027.

The council had previously described the amount of road damage reported in recent months as unusually high, with more than 7,000 identified throughout the previous month alone.